Victoria’s burlesque scene is on the rise. And now, having been a dream for years and in planning for months, the city’s first international burlesque festival is soon to be a reality. The event, Isle of Tease, is organized by local performersand artists Misty Moss, Champagne Sparkles, and Gala Vega.
“Festivals are kind of like the Super Bowl of burlesque,” says Moss. “A lot of performers will do what we call the festival circuit.”
A festival creates the opportunity to showcase local talent while encouraging the growth of the community by having big-name artists coming through town. The team at Isle of Tease wanted to feature some homegrown heavy hitters and knew they had to have Ruthe Ordare as one of the top headliners—Ordare is a founding member of Virago Nation, an Indigenous troupe operating out of Vancouver. Also headlining this year is The Luminous Pariah, an interdisciplinary cabaret performance artist out of Seattle, and Canadian burlesque legend Judith Stein.
“‘Legend’ is a term we give to performers who really pioneered this artform,” says Moss. “It’s really important for us in the community to celebrate them and to give them the opportunity to continue sharing their art.”
As for the other artists performing in the inaugural year of the festival, Moss says it’s imperative that the team selected a diverse crowd of performers.
“Burlesque can showcase any body, any age, any shape… It’s just a really unique space where anybody can be onstage and empower themselves,” says Moss.
The diversity of burlesque is changing the landscape for both body positivity and sex positivity.
“Once we create a space where people can feel really confident and empowered, that’s going to make them feel more safe to bring that back to their partners,” Moss says.
As an artform, Moss describes burlesque as magical.
“It’s so liberating and freeing… It’s a really great way to meet all of these amazing people from different walks of life and connect and really bond over the shared passion.”
It’s important for the audience to give all the energy the performers are sending out back to them. Cheering and clapping is an important way for the audience to show the performers they’re enthusiastic about what they’re watching.
“We’re able to receive that [energy], feel it, and build it up together… It just adds to the performance,” says Moss.
While audience participation is vital to a safe and exciting burlesque show, the artists also have to know how to command a stage.
“It’s really about the performer’s entitlement to be onstage,” says Moss. “If they know that they can own the space, they can just play with that energy. I think that makes for a really captivating performance.”
For those interested in exploring their own sexuality in a performative way, Moss’ advice is to just go for it.
“Reach out. There’s lots of resources,” says Moss. “We’re a really loving community and we’re really happy to help people and get them started on their journey.”
Isle of Tease
7 pm Friday, November 15 and 7 pm Saturday, November 16
Various prices, Victoria Conference Centre
isleoftease.com